Thomas Wheeler (1700 - 1755)

Born 15 Feb 1700 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Miner) Wheeler — married 25 Nov 1718 in Stonington CT

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1755 at age 55 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Erin Lovallo [send private message] and Tina Denman [send private message]

Genealogically Defined

Biography

Birth

Thomas Wheeler was born on a Monday, the day after Valentine's Day, 15 Feb 1700 to Isaac Wheeler, Jr and Mary (Shepard) Wheeler in Stonington, Connecticut Colony.^{[1][2][3][4] [5]}

Baptism

Thomas was baptized 24 Mar 1700, at First Congregational Church of Stonington, by Reverend James Noyes. He publicly owned the covenant on 25 Oct 1729.^[6][7]

Marriage

Thomas married Mary (Miner) Wheeler on Friday, 25 Nov 1718, in the First Congregational Church of Stonington. The ceremony was performed by Reverend James Noyes.^{[1][2][6][7][8]}

Children

Born in Stonington, New London, Connecticut

1. Mary (Wheeler) Miner; b. 19 Jul 1720^[1][2][9]
2. Thomas Wheeler; b. 16 Mar 1721/2^{[1][2][4][10]}
3. Isaac Wheeler; b. Feb 12, 1723/4^[1][2][4]
4. Jeremiah Wheeler; b. 31 Jul 1725^[1][2][11]
5. Shepard Wheeler; b. 12 Feb 1726^{[1][2][12][13]}
6. Paul Wheeler; b. 11 Sep 1728^{[1][2][13][14]}
7. Mehitable (Wheeler) Babcock; 05 Sep 1731^{[1][2][13][15]}
8. Charles Wheeler; b. 11 Sep 1735^{[1][2][13][16][17]}
9. Lucy (Wheeler) Page; b. 14 Jun 1737^{[1][2][13][18]}
10. Cyrus Wheeler; b. 14 Oct 1733^[1][2][19] Note: Both Wheeler History and History of Stonington list Cyrus's date of birth as 11 Sep 1739. Where this date came from is not clear. The Barbour Collection has the 1733 date. The Hale Collection has him 43 years of age at the time of his death (prior to his birthday in 1777). Find A Grave also has the 1733 date.^{[1][2][4][20][21]}
11. Ephraim Wheeler; 16 Dec 1740^{[1][2][13][22]}

Profession

According to an article in The American Monthly Magazine Thomas had inherited his father's lands and his mother's money, and was one of the richest farmers in Eastern Connecticut.^[23]

Military Service

An article in the The American Monthly Magazine refers to Thomas as “Captain Thomas Wheeler”, and no record of him serving as been found. However, The Connecticut Historical Society has on file, a letter of correspondence from Captain Thomas Wheeler in regards to the promotion of Thomas Wheeler, Jr. It reads (as transcribed):

To ye Honored County Court Now Sitting at New London This may certifie your honors That at a Legall Training Day of ye South Part of ye Second Company or Train Band (so Called) in Stonington on ye 7th Day of May Last Thomas Wheeler Junior was Chofsen Sergeant of D Company or Train Band, by a Clear and full Majority of votes of all Present that had Right to Vote in ye Choice of Sergeants Belonging to ye Company And I Pray your Honours to Rattyfgie ye Serjeant in his Post according to ye Said, from your Humble Servant, June ye 19th 1744, Thomas Wheeler Capt of D Company (Certified William Hillard, Clark of D Company)^[24]

This correspondence shows that he was Captain of the Local Militia serving to protect Stonington from Indian attacks.^[25][23]

Death & Burial

Thomas died 23 Oct 1755, at the age of 55. ^{[26] [27]}

He is buried in Paul Wheeler Cemetery #40 in Stonington, Connecticut.^[2][25][28]

Will

Albert Gallatin Wheeler, Jr., in The Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Family in America, on page 298, before the Will of of Thomas Wheeler, states that Thomas was one of the most prominent and wealthiest men of the town in his day and generation. Thomas's will is just over one page long, and his inventory is three and one half pages long, with the total being valued at £12,669, 9s. 5d. At today's standards that would be $2,864,603 USD. The Will can be viewed on pages 298-300, and the entire inventory on pages 300-303. His estate was likely appraised by his wife's brother Simeon Miner and his Sister, Margaret (Wheeler) Frink son, Isaac Frink^[2]

• Fact: Christening (24 March 1700) Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States
• Fact: Burial Paul Wheeler Cemetery #40, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} Wheeler, Richard Anson; (1900); History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900; Press of the Day Publishing Company, New London, Conn.; PG 638 & 640 #19, ; Retrieved from https://archive.org/stream/historyoftownofs00whee_1#page/n11/mode/2up
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15} Wheeler, Albert Gallatin : American College of Genealogy (1914). The Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Family in America; PG Birth: 294, Birth, Marriage & Beginning of his Will: 298-303, Children: 303; https://archive.org/stream/genealogicaland00genegoog#page/n12/mode/2up
3. ↑ Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-QLT : 3 December 2014), Thomas Wheeler, 15 Feb 1700; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Stonington. Connecticut Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928.
5. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-QLT : 11 February 2018), Thomas Wheeler, 15 Feb 1700; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Wheeler, Richard A. (1875); History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Connecticut, 1674-1874; With The Report of Bi-Centennial Proceedings, 03 Jun 1874; With Appendix Containing Statistics of the Church.; T.H. Davis and Company, Norwich, Connecticut; PG 202, 215 & 220; Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/historyoffirstco00whee
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. Original data: Connecticut Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut. View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3032/41107_620303988_0404-00429/241349
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55.Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1062/VBMDUSACT1634_0043-0263/416571
9. ↑ daughter Mary Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W3-DF3 : 3 December 2014), Mary Wheeler, 19 Jul 1720; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
10. ↑ son Thomas Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-QL1 : 3 December 2014), Thomas Wheeler in entry for Thomas Wheeler, 16 Mar 1721; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
11. ↑ son Jeremiah Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-QPK : 3 December 2014), Jeremiah Wheeler, 30 Jul 1725; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
12. ↑ son Shepard Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-7Q2 : 3 December 2014), Shepard Wheeler, 12 Feb 1726; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5} Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880;Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut. Notes: Probate Packets, Waldron-Wheeler, H, 1766-1875; View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9049/007629841_01257/1828315
14. ↑ son Paul Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-Q8T : 3 December 2014), Paul Wheeler, 11 Sep 1728; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
15. ↑ daughter Mehitable Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W3-XQF : 3 December 2014), Mehetable Wheeler, 05 Nov 1731; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
16. ↑ son Charles Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-7MQ : 3 December 2014), Charles Wheeler, 11 Sep 1735; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
17. ↑ son Charles Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. Original data: Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut. View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3032/41107_620303988_0404-00422?pid=247899
18. ↑ daughter Lucy Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W3-6ZB : 3 December 2014), Lucy Wheeler, 14 Jun 1737; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
19. ↑ son Cyrus Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-Q53 : 3 December 2014), Cyrus Wheeler, 14 Oct 1733; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
20. ↑ son Cyrus Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: The Charles R. Hale Collection. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions. Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut State Library. View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2900/32971_301938-00361/763649
21. ↑ son Cyrus Find A Grave Index, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVJ-P95M : 13 December 2015), Cyrus Wheeler, 1777; Burial, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States of America, Paul Wheeler Cemetery #40; citing record ID 19017337, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
22. ↑ son Ephraim Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F748-74W : 3 December 2014), Ephraim Wheeler, 16 Dec 1740; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, Volume 7 aka The American Monthly Magazine, Vol VII, July-Dec 1895; National Society, D.A.R., Washington, DC.; PG 564; Retrieved from: http://tinyurl.com/y92fey5h (Google Books)
24. ↑ Correspondence from such men as Thomas Wheeler, Josiah Willard, Robert Denison, and John Tully. 1744 - 1749 , IV. Correspondence, Collection number is 80328 (Box #2, Folder #13). Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut. (T Counce has a photograph copy). This is not a view of the document, but how it was located: http://chs.org/finding_aides/finding_aids/frinw1763_pdf.pdf
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} Find A Grave Index, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVJ-P9RS : 13 December 2015), Thomas Wheeler, 1755; Burial, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States of America, Paul Wheeler Cemetery #40; citing record ID 19017022, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
26. ↑ "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7FQ-L4C : 9 February 2018), Thomas Wheeler, 23 Oct 1755; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 3,224.
27. ↑ Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7VD-8L9 : 3 December 2014), Thomas Wheeler, 23 Oct 1755; citing , reference p 350; FHL microfilm 3,364.
28. ↑ Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 16629-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: The Charles R. Hale Collection. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions. Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut State Library. View with paid subscription: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2900/32971_301938-00361/763647

• Wheeler, Richard. History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut (Day Publishing, Co., New London, Conn., 1900) Page 730-4: Will and Inventory.
• Source Information

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.